Two weeks was not enough to experience Portugal to the fullest but I am glad that I got to experience even a small portion! I also got to visit many companies that play a big part in Portugal’s economy. The leading industries in Portugal are cork, olive oil, porcelain, wine and textiles!? In the company visits I noticed that just like the US sustainability is something that is taken seriously and they are always thinking about the future of the company. I also noticed that many companies were people-oriented and valued the relationships between not just their customers but their employees as well. Oftentimes, the founding family still had a great impact on the company. Also, since Portugal took a great hit with the pandemic, many companies had to adapt to the new circumstances quickly but also provide the same quality of products.
It is so sad to leave Portugal, but I am so excited to start the new semester with this new knowledge and can’t wait for others to experience what I experienced!